Global standards for ICT statistics
To ensure consistency and comparability in information and communication technology (ICT) statistics worldwide, ITU defines and updates indicators, mainly through its two expert groups : the Expert Group on ICT Household Indicators (EGTI) and the Expert Group on Telecommunication/ICT Indicators (EGH).
These groups comprise representatives from national statistical offices, regulators, ministries, academia, international organizations, and industry stakeholders. In addition to defining what to measure (i.e., indicators), these expert groups also establish how to measure it, by developing sound and implementable methodological standards.
Each year,
EGTI and
EGH form thematic working groups tasked with updating existing indicators and standards or developing new ones, ensuring that the measurement agenda keeps up with the rapidly changing digital landscape.
The indicators and standards defined by EGTI and EGH are documented in the
Manual for Measuring ICT Access and Use by Households and Individuals, the
Handbook for Telecommunication Indicators, and the
ITU
ICT Price Basket Statistics Manual 2025. These guides contain definitions, methodologies, and examples to facilitate the implementation of these standards.
Data collection and production of ICT statistics
ITU collects and verifies data from governments, national statistical offices, and regulators worldwide. These efforts are complemented by desk research. The data collected is used to produce statistics for hundreds of indicators related to regulation, infrastructure, investment, revenue, adoption, use and applications of connectivity, and digital skills. ITU maintains the largest dataset on affordability of Internet access, covering around 220 economies.
When needed, ITU produces estimates for certain countries and for certain groups, including ITU regions, United Nations (UN) special groups, and World Bank income groups, applying the most advanced estimation methods.
Data dissemination
Making ICT data widely available in a user-friendly manner is key to supporting effective policymaking. ITU ensures that its statistics are open and structured for meaningful analysis and comparison. The
ITU DataHub offers access to hundreds of indicators related to connectivity and digital transformation, organised by topics. It features economy profiles, visualization tools, interactive dashboards, and an advanced data query tool. The platform is continuously enhanced with new features, tools, and datasets.
Data science for official statistics
The data science practice within ITU's ICT Data and Analytics division advocates for, pioneers, and leverages big data, unconventional data sources, and new methods to enhance the accuracy, timeliness, and granularity of ICT statistics and address persisting gaps in official statistics. It collaborates with other international organizations and research organizations and pilot projects in countries around the world, contributing to advancing and mainstreaming these new methods. Within the
UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics, ITU chairs the
Task Team on Mobile Phone Data and leads its subgroup on synthetic data.
Analysis and research
Beyond data collection, ITU transforms statistics into meaningful insights through research and reports that inform policy and investment decisions. The
Measuring digital development series of publications provides data-driven insights into ICT trends, including the
Facts and Figures reports. The annual
ICT Development Index assesses economies based on key dimensions of universal and meaningful connectivity. Other data-rich ITU publications include the
Global Cybersecurity Index, the
Global Regulatory Outlook, and the
Global E-waste Monitor.
Capacity development and technical assistance
ITU supports the development of national data ecosystems through
capacity-development activities and technical assistance. It empowers policymakers and statisticians with the skills and tools needed to produce, analyse, and utilize ICT statistics, fostering a continuous cycle of supply and demand for quality data.
ITU conducts regional training workshops and online courses, ensuring national experts are equipped with data collection and analysis skills. The ITU Academy offers specialized training on the collection of
ICT household indicators,
ICT administrative indicators, and the use of
mobile phone data for official statistics – with its offerings continuously expanding. Upon request, and subject to resource availability, ITU provides technical assistance, primarily to developing countries.
Global cooperation and development
- The
World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Symposium (WTIS), hosted annually by ITU, is the main global event for discussing the latest trends and advancing the ICT measurement agenda.
- ITU plays a crucial role in coordinating global ICT measurement efforts and ensuring data-driven progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the custodian of
six UN SDG indicators, ITU plays a key role in monitoring global development progress.
- ITU also monitors progress on the
Connect 2030 Agenda, as well as the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) action lines and Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development targets.
- ITU is a founding member of the
Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, and a member of its Steering Committee. Through data collection, advocacy, sharing of good practices, and capacity building, this coalition of 14 regional and international organizations, enhances the availability and quality of ICT data and promotes evidence-based policymaking. By distributing the responsibilities for collection of ICT-related indicators, the partnership avoids duplication of efforts.
- ITU actively contributes to relevant UN fora on statistics, including
UN Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA) and the
UN Statistical Commission.
Professionalism and ethics in ICT statistics
ITU strictly adheres to the
Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2014, and to the
UN Principles Governing International Statistical Activities. These principles ensure that ITU's statistical work is conducted with integrity, independence, and transparency. By upholding these professional and ethical standards, and applying rigorous, internationally agreed methodologies, ITU aims to produce impartial, high-quality data, to reinforce evidence-based policymaking.
Last update: May 2025
